I am an ex officio commissioner of oaths, as an admitted (and in my case practising) attorney.

'Ex officio commissioners of oaths.—The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, designate the holder of any office as a commissioner of oaths for any area specified in such notice, and may in like manner withdraw or amend any such notice.'

S 6 of the JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND COMMISSIONERS OF OATHS ACT NO. 16 OF 1963

The regulation under which ex officio commissioners of oaths are appointed is: GN 903 of 10 July 1998: Designation of Commissioners of Oaths in terms of section 6 of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963, which states:

'I, Abdulah Mohamed Omar, Minister of Justice, hereby, under section 6 of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963 (Act No. 16 of 1963), designate the holders of the offices listed in the Schedule to be commissioners of oaths for the Republic of South Africa with effect from the date hereof.'

S 2 of the said schedule makes the following commissioners of oaths ex officio:

'2. Administration of justice

(a)

Advocate admitted in terms of the Admission of Advocates Act, 1964 (Act No. 74 of 1964); Admission of Advocates Act, 1964 (Act No. 74 of 1964) as applicable on 6 December 1977 (former Republic of Bophuthatswana); and the Admission of Advocates Amendment Proclamation No. 1 of 1992 (former Republic of Venda).

Sworn translator admitted and enrolled in terms of rule 59 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of South Africa; Supreme Court of Bophuthatswana Act, 1982 (Act No. 32 of 1982) (former Republic of Bophuthatswana); and Supreme Court Decree No. 43 of 1990 (former Republic of Ciskei).'

Many other offices in various areas of public life are also made ex officio commissioners of oaths in terms of the regulation, with various offices being assigned the status under the following main categories, to quote the index of the schedule:

Board of Executors as defined in regulation 1 of the regulations published by Government Notice R.910 of 22 May 1968

11A.

Bosasa Security (Pty) Ltd

11Ba.

BoE Stockbrokers (Pty) Limited

11Bb.

BoE (Pty) Limited

12.

Building society registered in terms of the Building Societies Act, 1986 (Act No. 82 of 1986)

13.

Census and statistics

14.

Chambers of industries and of commerce, national organisations/associations registered in terms of section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973), and trade unions and employers’ organisations or federations of such trade unions or employers’ organisations registered in terms of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)

14A.

Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa

15.

Co-operative registered or deemed to be registered in terms of the Co-operatives Act, 1981 (Act No. 91 of 1981)

15A

Co-operative incorporated as a company in terms of section 161A of Co-operatives Act, 1981 (Act No. 91 of 1981), read with section 63 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973)

16.

Council for Mineral Technology established in terms of the Mineral Technology Act, 1989 (Act No. 30 of 1989)

16A.

Credo

17.

CSIR

18.

Department of Correctional Services

19.

Development Bank of Southern Africa

20.

Durban City Police

21.

Educational institution

22.

Eskom

23.

First National Asset Management and Trust Company (Proprietary) Limited

23A.

Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa

24.

Foundation for Research Development including the National Accelerator Centre, the South African Astronomical Observatory and the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

25.

Gold Fields Security Limited

26.

Health services

26A.

27.

Special Investigating Unit

28.

Indigent Subsidy Scheme of the Municipality of Port Elizabeth

29.

Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited, established by section 2 of the Industrial Development Act, 1940 (Act No. 22 of 1940)